Precious in God's Sight

Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the stormy, rainy, day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! It took a cold front to bring the rain we sorely needed, but God's timing is always right. The temperature is already dropping from the 72 degrees when I took the dumpster down to the driveway...in the rain.

The front yard is full of large and small branches, broken from the oak trees. If the rain stops, I will pick them all up and stick them in the trash.

We drove through the very dry park yesterday and saw a black ibis. At least, I think it was an ibis! I had never seen a black one before. There weren't many people out, because it was very warm and windy and school was not out yet, but the trees were reflected in the water, along with the anhingas, And a picnic table was full with family enjoying their lunch. God is good!

From Hymns from the Family of God:

In God's sight a person is the most precious of all values. This truth possessed Jesus and never let Him go. He thought it, taught it, and lived it with full devotion. He illustrated it with stories of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son.

Every individual is inherently worthful to the Father--every child everywhere, of every race, of every condition. Love requires response, and parenthood craves companionship and cooperation. Therefore every human being on this globe is indispensable to God, indispensable in the sense that God can never be fully Himself without loving comradeship, and He can never complete His work without faithful cooperation from every individual everywhere.

Jesus taught and lived the twin truths that man needs God and God needs man, which is to say, parents and child are so bound together that cleavage is disastrous. No idea could be further from the mind of our Lord than the persistent doctrine that God is so transcendent, so holy, so sovereign that He is unknowable, inaccessible, and unresponsive. In the prayer which He taught His disciples, Jesus makes it clear that men should carry all their needs to the Father, even a petition for the satisfaction of daily bodily requirements. Jesus knew men to be frail, sinful, easily corrupted, sometimes monstrously depraved, capable of cruel and atrocious behavior- but always, always, always a child of God, and, even when a prodigal, indispensable to the lonely and yearning heart of the Fatherl
Kirby Page

I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Con't from yesterday

Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the overcast, changing day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! When I stepped outside this morning, the wind was blowing and the clouds hid the sky, so no stars were visible. Since the oak trees are in their shedding stage, our porch and yard are covered with brown leaves. However, our kind friend who does our yard, gave me an electric blower, so when the wind dies down, I can blow everything instead of the sweeping.! God is good!

I have to confess, I am a saver. I save prayer requests and various other things. Some of the personal ones, I put in my treasure box. But today I decided it was time to clean up for the new year, and in reading over the requests I had saved, I could clearly see God's Hand at work in answering. Sometimes it takes a while to see the answers, but even though I forget that I have prayed for certain things, God does not forget, and in His time, He will answer.

Sometimes, I will receive an email, or response from someone who has asked for prayer and that is always heartwarming to read and hear. Yesterday, I had a few errands to run, and shopping to do, and even though I didn't ask, at a couple intersections where I usually have to wait a long time for traffic to clear..I was able to move right out! I praised God for it. Little things mean a lot! God is Awesome!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Where can I find inspiration and encouragement in times of depression?

Proverbs 16:20 Those who listen ti instruction will prosper; those who trust the Lord will be happy.

John 15:11 I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!

When we are depressed, we need to stop listening to the voices of discouragement, and listen instead to God's word. The instructions in God's word help us to recognize the lies of the world, the flesh, and the devil that fuel our depression. Trusting the Lord and his word bring us unshakable joy.

Nehemiah 8:10 Nehemiah continued, "Go and celebrate with a feast of choice foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don't be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!"

2 Corinthians 12:9 Each time he said, "My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weadnesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me.

When we are weak we may be more receptive to the Lord's strength. When God works through our weakness we know it is his work and not ours.

Matthew 11:28 Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."

Depression is one of the ways God gets us to rest and to finally slow down long enough to be with the Lord. As we come to Him through prayer and the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit comforts and strengthens us--often in ways we cannot explain.

Romans 8:31-32 What can we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since God did not spare even his own Son, but gave him up for ua all, won't God, who gave us Christ, also give us everything else?

Never underestimate the power of God's affirmation and his willingness to give us all we need for this life. Everything else we need is minimal compared with the infinite and costly gift of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.

I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Psoaring through Psalms

Good morning, dear friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! When I stepped outside this morning, the sky was overcast, so no stars were visible. But last night, I stepped outside just to look at Venus and Jupiter, still beaming brightly in the southwestern sky...and almost overhead was the three quarter moon, some distance away from the planets! Beautiful! God's Creation is awesome!

Yesterday, Terry, our retired friend from the Park, came over to put up our outside Christmas lights. He is keeping busy in retirement, and looks very relaxed in the face. It is a blessing to have friends to help us out in various ways. God is good!

Speaking of the park, we drove through and saw Ibis reflected in the still water. They looked like a still photo. Colored leaves were floating on the surface, and the usual anhingas were drying out their wings perched anywhere they could find a place to hang onto. It seems like there are a lot more woodstorks around this winter, but somehow, they don't find their way to Sawgrass.

From the Promise Bible NLT:

DEPRESSION

Psalm 42:5,6 Why am I discouraged? Why so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again--my Savior and my God! Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember your kindness--from Mount Herman, the source of the Jordan, from the land of Mount Mizar.

Depression is a time for soul-searching, for asking basic questions. We are often discouraged because we concentrate on our circumstances instead of on the Lord who will always care for us. The psalmist's questions awakened him to the reality that God alone is our source of comfort and hope. When we are depressed, we need to remind ourselves that God has been faithful in the past and will be faithful in the present.

Habakkuk 3:17-19 Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vine; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation. The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He will make me as surefooted as a deer and bring me safety over the mountains.

Much depression is caused by trusting in the things of this world instead of in God. We will be disappointed if our happiness is based on security, prestige, possessions and popularity. These things come and go. Trusting in God helps us travel through the toughest times with surefooted confidence.

I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

A Benediction for this week

Good morning, dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the chilly day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it!

When I stepped outside this morning, stars were brilliant, but I could see no sign of the moon. I know it is getting full, but it was hidden earlier.

Yesterday, we saw a large, fat gator basking in the sun at the park, and lots of people enjoying the perfect weather with picnics and walking. God os good!

Something strange happened last night. I stayed up later than usual watching the three hankie Hall of Fame presentation, and when I came back to the bedroom, the two anniversary balloons were floating in front of the mirror. What is strange is that they had to float down the hall, through the living room and I never saw them!! Creepy. Their long ribbons got caught in the fan and now they have a very short string hanging down. The fan has not been untangled yet...not the ceiling fan, but a floor fan. Sigh. Another job. But at least I will learn how to clean the floor fan... :o)

I saw this in the Hymns for the Family of God and thought it would be great for this week:

May the Lord take from you all resistance to His will.
May He give to you the fullness of His life.
and the sufficiency of His practical, daily help.
May the Lord send you during this week to come to those
He can only serve through your unique experience of His
and your very special abilities.
May the Lord bring us together even when we are apart,
as we learn to be supportive of one another in our prayers
and our service.
Amen
Bryan Jeffrey Leech

I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

A Firm Foundation

Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! When I stepped outside much earlier steady Venus was still in place, but the moon was nowhere to be seen, It was a chilly morning, but now the sun is shining and the day is warming up.

Our friend, David, was already here to mow the front yard and blow all the acorns and leaves off the driveway. We are blessed to have someone dependable to rely on to do" fix up "things for us.

We saw a very large, fat gator half in and half out of the water yesterday at the Park. At least he was getting the tail warmed up! As i was walking Wednesday, I stopped to let a patron take a photo with his tripod camera. I couldn't see what he was aiming at, but when he finished, I walked on and saw a butterfly posing on the top rail. It didn't fly away until I had passed it. It was orange with black spots, but I don't remember the name. God's Creation is Awesome!

From Quiet Moments with God:

The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
Matthew 7:25

The world's tallest tower stands in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The first observation deck rises to 1,136 feet, and second is even higher at 1,915 feet. Photographs and information located inside the tower help visitors comprehend the enormous undertaking of the project. Sixty two tons of earth and shale were removed from fifty feet into the ground for laying the concrete that rises to the sky.

From 1972 to 1974, 3,000 workers were at the tower site. Harnessed by safety ropes, some of the laborers dangled outside the giant for their finishing work. Remarkably, no one sustained injuries nor died on location.

Today, a rapid elevator transports visitors upward for a breathtaking view of the city and all surrounding areas. Many feel it was well worth the money, time, and effort required to build the CN tower.

We, too, need a good foundation for facing life each day. As we pray and spend time with our Heavenly Father, we are strengthening our spiritual foundation, our support base for life. We are able to see more from His point of view and not just our own. Thus we are not overwhelmed by whatever comes our way. When we feel we're hanging on the edge or suspended in mid-air, we can take courage in knowing He is holding us-firmly planted- in the palm of his hand His foundation is strong and sure, and He will not crumble and fall.

Faith is the Christian's
foundation. Hope is
his anchor. Dearh is his
harbor. Christ is his pilot,
and heaven is
his country.
Jeremy Taylor

I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love.

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

The First New Shoes

Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! Well, I overslept this morning, so the daylight had already washed away the darkness, but last evening, I looked once again at the crescent moon, which has moved further to the south, and saw Venus and Jupiter in their same positions. Awesome!

Yesterday afternoon, I was determined to take a Park walk, so I enjoyed the coolish air, and looked at Mama gator for a few minutes, then on to the tower. I heard a small chirp and watched a tiny wren flitting around the nude maple trees. Then I saw a single moorhen at the tower. They have not been around for some time, but usually are in pairs, so I wonder where the other half was? Anyway, the wind was blowing quite strongly, and the leaves were all over the boardwalk, so I just scuffed through them and really enjoyed the outdoors. I was really warm by the time I finished the walk! But God is good!

From Quiet Moments with God

Matthew 25:40
The king will reply,"I tell you the truth, watever you did for one of the least of these brothers or mine, you did for me."

As the depression continued, the kitchen cabinets remained empty. Money was scarce. Their father, who had already deserted his family once before, couldn't handle the pressure and left again. As the oldest son, Jerry hit the road to try to earn some money to buy food for his three younger brothers. The air was bitterly cold, and the ground was frozen.

As Jerry walked, he saw some men digging a hold beside the road. "Can I help?" he asked.
"Sure," one of the men said as he handed him a shovel.

Jerry worked hard. For hours he dug in the bitter cold through frozen dirt while sleet pelted the ground. The men handed him a few coins before quitting. The yound boy stopped by the corner market to buy some canned goods for Christmas dinner the following day.

As he walked out of the store, the rain and sleet picked up and poured down on him. He had placed cardboard inside his shoes to replace the worn-out soles, and that had worked fine until the freezing wateer soaked his socks and feet. He sat down on the cold ground to adjust the cardboard.

"Son, are those the only shoes you have?" a man in uniform asked.

"Yes, sir," Jerry replied.

"Come with me," the man said, and he took him to a shoe store down the street, where he bought him his first pair of brand new shoes.

The light of Christmas shone brightly at the kitchen table as Jerry's family enjoyed the meal that he had earned the day before, digging a ditch in the freezing cold. The Love of Jesus--and the memory of a kind man in a uniform--brought tears to Jerry's eyes as he thanked God for taking care of them all, even in the worst of times.

Love goes without, that
another may have.
Rev. J. M. Gibbon

I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Beatitudes

Good Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the chilly day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! When I stepped outside this morning, it was too early to see the frost across the street, but when the sun came up, all the roofs were covered and the lawns were white and frosty. It was pretty, but very cold!

Did you all see the convergence of the moon and Venus and Jupiter last evening? Beautiful! God has arranged a show for all who look up at sunset in the southwestern sky. The waxing moon and the two planets are very close together right now. They won't be that close again until 2052. This is believed to be the star that told of the birth of Jesus, when Jupiter and Venus were so close they seemed to be one.

God is Awesome!

As we drove through the Park yesterday, I noticed that the cypress trees are all brown and shedding, and the maple trees are nearly through casting off their leaves. A fat gator was basking in the sun on a bank by the lake, unnoticed by many people who drove right by and are not looking. God is good!

The Beatitudes from the NIV:

Now when He saw the crowds,
He went up on a mountainside and sat down.
His disciples came to Him
and He began to teach them, saying:

Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger
and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God
Blessed are those who are persecuted
because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you,
persecute you and falsely say
all kinds of evil against you
because of Me.
Rejoice and be glad,
because great is your reward in heaven.
For in the same way
They persecuted the prophets
who were before you.
Matthew 5:1-12

I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love.

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis